Bobby's Book Club - February Edition - On Directing Film by David Mamet - DISCUSSION!

BobbyMiller · 01-25-2009, 03:07 PM

Hey guys!
This thread is here to discuss the book!
Don't know what I'm talking about?
Read this: http://indymogul.com/3t8

And if you wanna see what other books and film equipment I recommend check out: BobbyFilms.com

imafish · 01-25-2009, 07:20 PM

I hate reading, but I'm going to have to pick this up.

FDProd · 01-26-2009, 01:26 PM

Hey Bobby,

You're not the first to recommend this book to me. Another director friend of mine, who actually graduated from a 4 year university, told me to check this book out after she saw my short film. I'm definitely grabbing this one. Thanks!

I can't wait till we start talking about The Writer's Journey!

blitzkrieg · 01-26-2009, 04:26 PM

Very cool. I've read this one before. I'll have to read it again. After you shoot TUB and before you edit it, I recommend reading "In the Blink of an Eye" by Walter Murch. It's not about how to edit as it is why we edit. Also tres cool!

roguebot · 01-26-2009, 06:13 PM

I read this book a couple months ago when I started film school. It was extremely easy to read, I zipped through it in an afternoon. I would definitely recommend it, it gets you thinking about things and he's a good writer. But I really want to stress that this isn't a "how to direct" book. This is just one guy's views on directing, it is in no way "the best" way to direct. I actually ended up disagreeing with most of his points as I read it, but it was great to consider them and reinforce my own ideas.

His approach to style seems to be style-less. He comes from writing and directing theater. So he not only thinks that story and characters come first, but that it's all there should be. Any kind of cinematic technique or fancy angles are distractions and get in the way of what's really important. In a way he's sort of the "Anti-Hitchcock".

But a very good, short (and since this is Indymogul it's CHEAP) book. Check it out.

jpd8j · 01-27-2009, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blitzkrieg

Very cool. I've read this one before. I'll have to read it again. After you shoot TUB and before you edit it, I recommend reading "In the Blink of an Eye" by Walter Murch. It's not about how to edit as it is why we edit. Also tres cool!

Yes this book is AMAZING! I love editing and picked it up on a whim and devoured it! I like the second editions because it he talks about digital filmmaking.
Can't wait to discuss this book, though my copy has writing all over the edges. UGH!

Miten Soni · 01-27-2009, 02:20 AM

i just picked up the book today, hopefully ill be done reading it soon!

HipsterDoofusProductions · 02-04-2009, 02:59 PM

I just finished this book. It was really the easy read.
I really liked Mamet's simplification of the whole writing process and I'm positive I will think about beats a whole lot more next time I write something, but I have to agree with what someone else said, his approach did seem to (almost purposefully) lack style.

I really want to check out some of the work he has done to see what he talks about in effect.

I know his approach is not the ONLY way to write, so if you keep that in mind this book really gets you to think differently about the way you probably are writing.

On the whole I give this book my stamp of approval and I wouldn't mind having Mamet teach one of my classes.

knightly · 02-04-2009, 03:53 PM

painfully insightful, holds little nuggets of incredible between the covers! Must read, I also second the "In the blink of an eye" recommendation.

01-25-2009, 03:07 PM	#1
BobbyMiller Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NYC	Bobby's Book Club - February Edition - On Directing Film by David Mamet - DISCUSSION! Hey guys! This thread is here to discuss the book! Don't know what I'm talking about? Read this: http://indymogul.com/3t8 And if you wanna see what other books and film equipment I recommend check out: BobbyFilms.com __________________ Bobby's recommended Film Books & Equipment Personal Youtube Channel - Subscribe!! TheBobbyMiller.com Send me letters (find out more here) The Reel Good Show PO Box 1214 New York, NY 10159-1214 Last edited by BobbyMiller; 02-07-2009 at 04:39 PM..

01-26-2009, 01:26 PM	#3
FDProd Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008	Great first choice! Hey Bobby, You're not the first to recommend this book to me. Another director friend of mine, who actually graduated from a 4 year university, told me to check this book out after she saw my short film. I'm definitely grabbing this one. Thanks! I can't wait till we start talking about The Writer's Journey!

01-26-2009, 04:26 PM	#4
blitzkrieg Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Abita Springs, LA	Very cool. I've read this one before. I'll have to read it again. After you shoot TUB and before you edit it, I recommend reading "In the Blink of an Eye" by Walter Murch. It's not about how to edit as it is why we edit. Also tres cool! __________________ www.LaFilm.net - Louisiana's Independent Film Network

01-26-2009, 06:13 PM	#5
roguebot Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York City	I read this book a couple months ago when I started film school. It was extremely easy to read, I zipped through it in an afternoon. I would definitely recommend it, it gets you thinking about things and he's a good writer. But I really want to stress that this isn't a "how to direct" book. This is just one guy's views on directing, it is in no way "the best" way to direct. I actually ended up disagreeing with most of his points as I read it, but it was great to consider them and reinforce my own ideas. His approach to style seems to be style-less. He comes from writing and directing theater. So he not only thinks that story and characters come first, but that it's all there should be. Any kind of cinematic technique or fancy angles are distractions and get in the way of what's really important. In a way he's sort of the "Anti-Hitchcock". But a very good, short (and since this is Indymogul it's CHEAP) book. Check it out. __________________ “The two things that matter the most to me: emotional resonance and rocket launchers. Party of Five, a brilliant show, and often made me cry uncontrollably, suffered ultimately from a lack of rocket launchers.”

02-04-2009, 02:59 PM	#8
HipsterDoofusProductions Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Gainesville, FL	I just finished this book. It was really the easy read. I really liked Mamet's simplification of the whole writing process and I'm positive I will think about beats a whole lot more next time I write something, but I have to agree with what someone else said, his approach did seem to (almost purposefully) lack style. I really want to check out some of the work he has done to see what he talks about in effect. I know his approach is not the ONLY way to write, so if you keep that in mind this book really gets you to think differently about the way you probably are writing. On the whole I give this book my stamp of approval and I wouldn't mind having Mamet teach one of my classes. __________________ You were sick, but now you're well again, and there's work to do.

01-25-2009, 07:20 PM	#2
imafish Member Join Date: Aug 2008	I hate reading, but I'm going to have to pick this up.

02-04-2009, 03:53 PM	#9
knightly Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: MN, USA	painfully insightful, holds little nuggets of incredible between the covers! Must read, I also second the "In the blink of an eye" recommendation. __________________ Making Low/No Budget Cinema Look Like A Million Bucks! Y.A.F.I.:Underground Media

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